If this were a regular-season game at a neutral site, the Cardinals would be a moderate favorite and the only side we would consider. But Louisville will be missing QB Tyler Shough, its top two defensive lineman and a top WR to NFL draft preparation. Washington is remarkably intact for a power-conference program and needs this win to help offset an otherwise disappointing season. The Huskies rate to be a strong play in this one.

Quite an odds flip on this matchup, with Washington going from a clear underdog to a narrow favorite. Both rosters have been stripped of opt-out players, most significantly Louisville QB Tyler Shough. However, fill-in Harrison Bailey did start at Tennessee (albeit four seasons ago) and did complete every pass this year (albeit only eight attempts). Cardinals coach Jeff Brohm is somewhat of a quarterback whisperer. Washington averaged just 22.5 ppg, 110th in FBS. Its pass defense is da bomb but, with Shough departed, the Cardinals likely will adhere to the ground game. The Huskies' wins total away from home: zero.

Any place other than Husky Stadium wasn't a good place this season for U-Dub, which lost all six away from its home field for first-year HC Jedd Fisch. Huskies issues were partly at QB, where Mississippi State transfer Will Rogers could only post lukewarm stats and was eventually displaced by skittery frosh Demond Williams. Meanwhile, Jeff Brohm has been waiting 12 months to get another bowl shot for his Cards after the Holiday loss to USC last December. The 'Ville is minus QB Tyler Shough and top RB Isaac Brown, but frosh RB Duke Watson flashed big-play ability down the stretch, while QB Harrison Bailey is a six-year college veteran who finally gets a chance in a bowl. Play Louisville on ML (Sun Bowl)

We are entering the prime zone of bowl games as New Year’s Eve is upon us. The Washington Huskies were a team that struggled two-fold with the success of last year’s team, and Kalen DeBoer taking the Alabama job. The transition to the Big 10 was tough, but this is where a 6-6 team can shine in a bowl game. Huskies freshman quarterback Demond Williams has had in-season reps, expect the Huskies to have the proper packages. Grab the Huskies.